Get Out of My Way

And it will be said: “Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”

Isaiah 57:14 NIV

I recently joined a group of ladies for Bible study. Noticing that some of the questions were fill-in-the-blank type, I thought, Okay, these are familiar questions requiring perfunctory answers.

So my summary of Mark 10:46-52 went like this: Blind man yells for Jesus. Jesus asks what he wants. He wants to see. Jesus heals him. Deep, isn’t it?

We were instructed to read the text again, noting anything additional that came to mind. I was surprised how many details I had overlooked.

The setting of this event was Jericho. God had brought the outer walls of Jericho down through Joshua and the Israelites centuries earlier. Also, Rahab and her family were saved. I wonder if this increased the faith of the blind man, Bartimaeus, as he called out to Jesus, hoping for another miracle in Jericho.

Bartimaeus must have heard stories about Jesus, His miracles and His teachings. As Jesus was passing, Bartimaeus called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Mark 10:47). Son of David was a messianic name. This blind man saw what many could not see—Jesus was the long awaited Messiah!

Obstacles stood between Bartimaeus and Jesus. First was his blindness. While the onlookers watched for Jesus, Bartimaeus had to rely on his hearing.

Second, he was sitting on the ground. I imagine people crowded over and in front of him. How could a seated, blind man hope to be seen in a sea of standing, sighted people?

Third, Bartimaeus was shushed by those around him after he called out to Jesus.I may have given up, but not Bartimaeus. He shouted all the more (Mark 10:48 NIV).

Because he pushed through the obstacles, Bartimaeus received his sight from Jesus. He could have taken his miracle and left. Instead, he immediately followed Jesus.

 Lord, give us courage and strength to overcome any hindrances to You or Your purposes for us.

 Terri Vardeman

(persistence/perseverance)